What he'll be singing with us: He'll be singing one of Verdi's most demanding tenor roles: the troubadour, warrior and romantic lead Manrico in Il Trovatore. The COC audience will be the very first to hear his complete Manrico – it's a role debut.
Where you might have seen him: If you attend the Met's Live in HD cinecasts, you might remember him as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni last year. His 2011/2012 season included leading roles at the Weiner Staatsoper (as Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore), Rodolfo in La bohème at both The Metropolitan Opera and Teatro Liceu in Barcelona, and the title role in The Tales of Hoffmann at La Scala in Milan. This will be his first time singing in a mainstage production at the COC.
Interviews and profiles: In this interview from the Telegraph in which Vargas describes his early career, author Michael White describes his instrument as "the loveliest tenor voice of all the younger generation." And in a Q&A, BBC Music speaks to him about his favourite arias.
Sneak preview: play the video below to hear him singing Il Trovatore's most famous and recognizable aria, "Di quella pira."
Ramón Vargas also has an extensive discography, including many studio recordings and performance DVDs.
Top photo: Ramón Vargas. Photo © Adolfo Perez Butron.
Posted by Cecily Carver / in Il Trovatore / comments (3) / permalink
Sara Fulgoni in the COC production of Bluebeard's Castle. Photo: Michael Cooper © 2001